'Hypocrisy' in WA shark kill debate

Western Australia has gained national and international attention for its approach to reducing the chance of shark attacks but some of those protesting the matter outside of WA are being labelled hypocrites.

While protesters do not support the killing of sharks in WA waters, in waters off cities where they plan to protest are shark nets which each year trap and kill numerous sharks and other marine life.

Last weekend, thousands of people gathered at locations in New South Wales and hundreds in Queensland (both states that also have shark programs that result in the death of sea creatures) to protest against WA's shark-kill zone policy.

The policy to catch and kill bull, tiger and great white sharks measuring over three metres in length that come within a kilometre of popular beaches was introduced in response to a spate of fatal shark attacks.

Surfing website editor Stuart Nettle said it was hypocritical for these people to be making so much noise about sharks being killed in WA when marine life is also killed as a result of strategies put in place to reduce shark attacks where they live.

Advertisement

"There is a hypocrisy of people jumping on the bandwagon without applying any rigour to their argument, it's a little 'follow the leader'," he said.

"It's happening in their backyard," he said.

Mr Nettle said he did not think people were aware of what was happening closer to home.

"I think they mean well but I think it's out of sight, out of mind, and it [the news that similar shark management strategies are in place where they live] might come as a bit of a shock to them," he said.

In New South Wales mesh nets were introduced almost 80 years ago.

Research compiled by Bond University for the WA government described the nets as "effective in reducing fatal shark attack at major metropolitan beaches" but also noted the death of about two dolphins per year as well as numerous seals, turtles and stingrays as well as small sharks.

The shark control program in Queensland was implemented in 1962 following a number of fatal shark attacks and involves shark nets as well as drum lines.

This program has made a "significant contribution to fishing down of dugong populations," and it may have obstructed whale migratory routes as well as being responsible for the death of more than 500 dolphins across a period of less than 30 years.

In South Africa, shark nets were introduced in 1952 and drum lines are also used.

Both methods of 'protection' have caused the deaths of a number of marine creatures other than the large sharks responsible for fatal shark attacks.

Alice Forrest who organised an event on Manly Beach on February 1, which saw more than 2000 people join together to show their opposition to WA's shark policy, admitted that many at the event were not aware of the situation in NSW.

"We've been trying to fight against [the shark nets off NSW beaches] for a long time but it's been hard getting onside, as well as the media," she said.

Ms Forrest said all of the speakers at the rally mentioned the nets in NSW and the drum lines and nets in QLD.

"We could see the nets for the sharks nets from the beach where we held the rally," she said.

"Most people just think they are some sort of protective barrier but they don't realise they catch and kill plenty of other animals as well as sharks."

Ms Forrest said she hoped people who attended the rally who were not aware of the situation closer to home had taken the issue on board.

She said while the main focus of the protest was what was happening in the west, she said she hoped the WA government would overturn their decision to implement the shark kill zones and that this would lead to addressing the issues of drum lines and shark nets in other places such as NSW and QLD.

A spokeswoman for Shark Angels, a shark conservation group with members worldwide said South Africa was famous for its "enlightened, balanced view of nature."

Cape Town-based Julie Andersen, is the founder of the group is involved in organising Wednesday's protest in Cape Town.

While the website for Shark Angels recognises that shark nets off South African beaches are "disastrous to the ecosystem", Ms Anderson described what is happening in WA as "ignorant targeting" of sharks.

"The very same sharks that we have worked since the 90s to protect are the very same sharks that Western Australia are so thoughtlessly destroying.

"How we can we possibly allow the ignorant targeting of some of the last remaining white sharks while wreaking complete havoc on an ecosystem we cherish and upon which we depend?"